Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1887-04-28
WASHINGTON LETTER
From Our Regular Correspondent

There is dearth of news in Wash
ington just at this moment, and pub
he atten ton is concentrating upon the
National Drill, which is only few
weeks off now. Preparations at the
camp ground and drill ground are nm
der way, the list of entries for partici-
potion in the contest is quite large, and
the indications are that there will be
an immense crowd to witness the novel
event, as well as grand gathering of
citizen soldiery.
The largest meeting of the bench
and bar ever held i'm this city, took
place at the City Hall through respect
to the OF the late Judge Carter. The
death of the Chief Justice removes an
historic and prominent figure from the
District bench, and from Washington's
list of notable men. He was pollti-
cal power in the early days of the re-
publican party, the close friend and
adviser of President Lincoln, Secre-
tary Stanton and other republican
leaders, and lTas been at the head of
the District bench since its creation.
He was man of profound political
sagacity and spotless personal charae-
ter, while his powers as u speaker
might be characterized by breadth of
information, brightness of wit, and
force of diction, the effect of which
was scarcely lessened, if at all, by a
stammering delivery.
In regard the vacancy caused by the
Judges death, which will be filled
soon by the President, member of
the bar said that the lawyers of the
District were so much disguised be-
cause their wishes were not consulted
in the last appointment that it was
doubtful what action they would take
or whether the would take any. He
referred to the appointment Of Judge
Montgomery, ClLveland's late com
missioner of Patents, who failed so
signally in that capacity that he felt
compelled TO resign and seek asnug
Test in another branch OF the service.
Rev. Dr.. Burchard has been on a
visit to Washington but did not go to
the White House. as most visitors to
the Capitol do. He is the clergyman,
you remember who distinguished him
self during the Presidential campaign
of "a by characterizing the Democrat
ic party as the party OF Rum, Roman
ism and Rebellion" tie preached last
Sunday in Rev. DR. NewIDan's Church,
the Metropolitan, and was the object
of a good deal of curious attention,
the people being anxious to see the
man of "the three RS" His friends,
including the Presidents pastor, Or.
Sunderland insisted upon his calling
upon Mr. Cleveland for whom he was
accused of having done so much, but
he declined to go.
Three times a week Mt one o'clock,
p. NJ. President Cleveland COMES
down to the East Room TO shake
hands with the people who have gath
cred there for this purpose. The
crowd, which is composed principally
of visitors to the city, and is controlled
rs to size. much 10y the weather, aver
ages from one to four hundred persons
each day. Usually the reception pass-
es off without any incident of note,
but not always to the. Presidents salts
faction. For instance yesterday he
was very much annoyed by half a
dozen newspaper youths who stood
near him and commented upon the
callers attending his reception. Their
remarks were audible and they had
something TO say about every individ-
ual who passed by. OF course such
conduct was totally devoid of good
breeding and full of unkindness of
spirit, and the president administered
to the group of would be wits only re-
bukcd in his power, which was to turn
and look reproachfuIly at them sever
al times.
Among the many memorable ami
versaries connected with that exciting
period at the close of the war with
which the past week has been full, was
TINT of Emancipation. The day is al
ways celebrated in the District OF Co
lumbla with considerable display, end
this time preparations were made for
unusually large festivities. just at the
appointed hour they were TO have
commenced with unprecedent "pomp
and circumstance, everything collaps-
ed with pithless rainfall, and our
colored citizens got little satisfaction
out of their parade. Plumes dropped,
sashes were bedragged. and banners
dripping and wet refused to play on
the breeze. Only section of the
long procession that was to have been
fell into liue and passed in review by
! the President.